Murray MiddletonNAB Cup - Week Three
March 3rd 2008 02:03
The major talking points to arise from the weekend's NAB Cup matches are as follows:
1. Muston's third serious knee injury
Hawthorn appear to have lost Beau Muston for the season. This will be the third time Muston has had major knee surgery (there were complications with his first reconstruction, resulting in a second). Muston was taken by the Hawks with pick 22 three years ago, behind the more fancied Jarrod Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis. Prior to Saturday's loss to Adelaide, his form had been solid in the Hawks victories over Sydney and Carlton. Although his movement appeared to be slightly hindered by his previous knee troubles, Muston seemed to be finally showing why the Hawks had been so patient with him. Hawthorn have a large pool of talent. Even in Saturday's loss to the Crows the likes of Rioli, Tuck, Murphy and Stokes looked promising. Muston's loss will not hurt the Hawks, but it is a tragedy for the young man. Very few players return after three knee operations.
2. Was it holding the ball?
With fifty seconds to play St. Kilda's David Armitage kicked the winning goal against Essendon on Friday night. Armitage - already renowned for his fierce tackling - pinned Essendon's Angus Monfries in the forward pocket and was awarded what initially appeared to be a contentious holding the ball decision. Bombers fans were incensed by the call which, effectively, denied them a birth in the NAB Cup final. Saints fans rejoiced at the opportunity to win their first silverware, however fickle, since their 2004 pre-season triumph over Geelong.
On first look Monfries seemed a little unlucky to be adjudged holding the ball. It was a willing passage of play and he was ultimately punished for his attack on the ball. However Monfries, under the technical wording of the rule, made no attempt to knock the ball out. Three other Essendon players immediately jumped on Monfries to create the illusion of a pack. This was not intelligent football. Armitage was the only St. Kilda player involved. Monfries might have forced a ball-up if he had have pretended to be trying to punch the ball out. Instead, he played dead. It was a gutsy decision, but it was the right one.
3. McVeigh, Roos and Akermanis
During the week Sydney coach Paul Roos was investigated by the AFL for alleged comments he made during the Swans narrow defeat to Hawthorn in Round 1 of the NAB Cup. An interchange steward claims to have heard Roos tell Jarrod McVeigh to, 'Go forward but don't kick a goal.' McVeigh has since signed a statutory decleration stating that he did not hear any such comment from Roos. Regardless of what actually happened, it is a trivial matter. Paul Roos has never won a match in the pre-season competition. Sydney's record in the season-proper under Roos speaks for itself.
Any team who wants to win the NAB Cup probably can. Very few sides take the competition seriously, instead opting to play youngsters and rotate stars on and off the interchange bench. Jason Akermanis yesterday referred to the competition as a 'Mickey Mouse' affair and called for it to be scrapped. His sentiments - blunt as always - aren't far from the mark. The NAB cup offers a good opportunity for teams to prepare for the home and away season. In some instances, it can provide the platform for a good season. But it is not a serious competition. Whoever is victorious in this weekend's Adelaide versus St. Kilda final would happily trade their four pre-season victories for the four points in round one.
Thankyou for reading.
-MM
1. Muston's third serious knee injury
Hawthorn appear to have lost Beau Muston for the season. This will be the third time Muston has had major knee surgery (there were complications with his first reconstruction, resulting in a second). Muston was taken by the Hawks with pick 22 three years ago, behind the more fancied Jarrod Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis. Prior to Saturday's loss to Adelaide, his form had been solid in the Hawks victories over Sydney and Carlton. Although his movement appeared to be slightly hindered by his previous knee troubles, Muston seemed to be finally showing why the Hawks had been so patient with him. Hawthorn have a large pool of talent. Even in Saturday's loss to the Crows the likes of Rioli, Tuck, Murphy and Stokes looked promising. Muston's loss will not hurt the Hawks, but it is a tragedy for the young man. Very few players return after three knee operations.
2. Was it holding the ball?
With fifty seconds to play St. Kilda's David Armitage kicked the winning goal against Essendon on Friday night. Armitage - already renowned for his fierce tackling - pinned Essendon's Angus Monfries in the forward pocket and was awarded what initially appeared to be a contentious holding the ball decision. Bombers fans were incensed by the call which, effectively, denied them a birth in the NAB Cup final. Saints fans rejoiced at the opportunity to win their first silverware, however fickle, since their 2004 pre-season triumph over Geelong.
On first look Monfries seemed a little unlucky to be adjudged holding the ball. It was a willing passage of play and he was ultimately punished for his attack on the ball. However Monfries, under the technical wording of the rule, made no attempt to knock the ball out. Three other Essendon players immediately jumped on Monfries to create the illusion of a pack. This was not intelligent football. Armitage was the only St. Kilda player involved. Monfries might have forced a ball-up if he had have pretended to be trying to punch the ball out. Instead, he played dead. It was a gutsy decision, but it was the right one.
3. McVeigh, Roos and Akermanis
During the week Sydney coach Paul Roos was investigated by the AFL for alleged comments he made during the Swans narrow defeat to Hawthorn in Round 1 of the NAB Cup. An interchange steward claims to have heard Roos tell Jarrod McVeigh to, 'Go forward but don't kick a goal.' McVeigh has since signed a statutory decleration stating that he did not hear any such comment from Roos. Regardless of what actually happened, it is a trivial matter. Paul Roos has never won a match in the pre-season competition. Sydney's record in the season-proper under Roos speaks for itself.
Any team who wants to win the NAB Cup probably can. Very few sides take the competition seriously, instead opting to play youngsters and rotate stars on and off the interchange bench. Jason Akermanis yesterday referred to the competition as a 'Mickey Mouse' affair and called for it to be scrapped. His sentiments - blunt as always - aren't far from the mark. The NAB cup offers a good opportunity for teams to prepare for the home and away season. In some instances, it can provide the platform for a good season. But it is not a serious competition. Whoever is victorious in this weekend's Adelaide versus St. Kilda final would happily trade their four pre-season victories for the four points in round one.
Thankyou for reading.
-MM
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